READING – Marshfield High’s penalty kill made overtime possible.
Once their MIAA Division 1 state round of 16 game against Reading reached the second overtime, the Rams prevailed, 2-1 on Saturday in a sold-out Burbank Arena.
Senior forward Tommy Carroll scored the winning goal for Marshfield with 3:51 left in the three-on-three second overtime period. After the Rams gained possession in the neutral zone, Cam McGetrick passed to Carroll near the right circle. Carroll fired the puck into the top left corner.
“All I know is I was exhausted,” Carroll said. “It was the second overtime and we needed a goal. Cam McGetrick gave me a beautiful cross-ice pass. I saw the goalie gave me the top left and I took it. Now we’re going on to the next round.”
Marshfield, the 10th seed, improved to 18-3-3 and will play Arlington Catholic in the quarterfinals. Reading, seeded seventh, finished its season at 16-6-1.
“It’s crazy,” said Marshfield goalie Kevin Murphy, who made 26 saves. “It’s the kind of stuff you dream about.”
To get to overtime, Marshfield killed a 5-on-3 situation for 1 minute and 31 seconds at the end of the third period. With 2:22 left in the third, the Rams’ Joe Rotondo went to the penalty box, joining Teddy Devoe. After a timeout, the Rams killed both penalties, icing the puck twice.
“We keep saying the goalie is the best player on the penalty kill,” said Marshfield coach Dan Connolly. “Kevin Murphy did great. Joe Merrick, Shane Keeler and Brendan Kuziuk had some big blocks. Everyone was gassed but they really dug deep.”
Shortly after Rotondo’s penalty expired and the teams were at even strength, McKentrick had a chance to score on a breakaway in the final 20 seconds but the shot went off Reading goalie Chris Hanafin’s pads.
The Rockets countered just before time expired with Nate Mulvey rushing the length of the ice and getting off a shot that Murphy saved.
In the first eight-minute overtime, which was four-on-four, Marshfield held a 6-2 edge in shots but the game went to the second eight-minute overtime, which was three-on-three. The Rams kept the pressure on Reading until Carroll scored the winning goal.
“We weren’t looking to go to a shootout,” said Reading coach Mark Doherty. “We practice a lot of four-on-four and three-on-three. The systems weren’t as clean as they could have been, but Dan has kids who can skate, too.”
After a scoreless first period. Reading took the early lead with 12:45 left in the second period. Craig Wilson scored from the left circle with an assist from Luca Picano.
With 3:39 left in the second period, the Rams tied the score with McGettrick scoring a power-play goal after a faceoff from the right circle. Michael Bekerian and Jack Doherty assisted.
Hanafin made 26 saves for Reading.
“Chris is a great goalie,” Murphy said. “He’s a great guy. I’ve read about him on social media. Much respect.”